DannyParker
Member
Registered: 26th Jun 07
Location: Blackburn, Lancs
User status: Offline
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Hi all, I replaced my rocker cover gasket on Saturday as it was dribbling oil out. Filled it up later with abuit 2 litres of oil.
Next Day went to Tesco for weekly morning breakfast and engine management light came on. parked up then realised every were I'd been theres a drop of oil every metre or so, looked underneath and it was drippin constantly. So popped bonnet to look were it was coming from.
There it was comin from the head near the oil filter, opened the coolant cap and water started gushing out but could here like air which was trapped. Looked under the oil cap, no mayonaise substance but a very very small drop of water. I've had no power loss, its actually better since Ive changed the rocker cover gasket and theres no white smoke. But the temp is quite high 96-98 and when Idle its sitting at about 1200 revs which is more than usual.
I'm sh***in it as I dont have £250-400 spare right now lol. Getting it looked at tonight but I'd just like to hear your thoughts and experiences. Thanks people 
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Hamish
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Registered: 4th Apr 05
Location: Ashtead, Surrey Drives: 100bhp Mint with Hole
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quote:
opened the coolant cap and water started gushing out but could here like air which was trapped.
coolent is a presurised system  . Sounds like youve just got an oil leak to me. Doesnt sound like any symtoms of a head gaskets failing
[Edited on 13-08-2007 by Hamish]
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Dean_W
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Registered: 13th Dec 05
Location: Downham Market, Norfolk
User status: Offline
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Is it using water? Is it using oil? Is it smoking? Do the coolant pipes go hard when the car is running?
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DannyParker
Member
Registered: 26th Jun 07
Location: Blackburn, Lancs
User status: Offline
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Not using a load of water no, using oil yeah as its leaking quite fast and drops onto the manifold so is burning and smoking. Yes the coolant hoses go hard,
Thanks
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Dean_W
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Registered: 13th Dec 05
Location: Downham Market, Norfolk
User status: Offline
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Best thing to do instead of guessing is go and ask a garage to do a sniffer test. This will tell you if there are any exhaust fumes in the coolant system.
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Will_Sport
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Registered: 28th Jun 04
Location: Notts
User status: Offline
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water would gush out when you open the filler cap on the coolant resevoir as its pressurised, and when you release the pressure it'll gush out (bit like shaking a bottle of coke, and opening it)
if it was headgasket i'd expect it to be using coolant (white smoke out the back), or burning oil (blue smoke out the back)
if its from the head and the gasket aint gone, you may have a warped head, or the head has been off at some point and not tightened down enough or properly.
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DannyParker
Member
Registered: 26th Jun 07
Location: Blackburn, Lancs
User status: Offline
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Would changing the rocker cover gasket then filling it with oil have anything to do with it?
Smoke comes out the back when it's idle but nothing out the ordinary as I've seen a coras with a blown head gasket billowing smoke. I just though some symptoms might not apply to ever situation.
I'll take a picture tonight of where the oil is leaking from. What can cause a warped head?
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Will_Sport
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Registered: 28th Jun 04
Location: Notts
User status: Offline
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warped heads are caused by ragging when cold (ie warms up to quick and warps).
when you say leaking from the head...... i assume you means where head joined the block......
do you actually means its coming from the rocker cover joins the head?
plus - did you use any gasket sealant when fitting the new rocker cover?
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DannyParker
Member
Registered: 26th Jun 07
Location: Blackburn, Lancs
User status: Offline
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Well I've taken a crappy phone camera pic after attemptin to clean my engine to try and show were it's leaking from.
Thanks for all your help, appreciate it. First car so paranoid of getting ripped off by a garage becasue I don't know much.
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Will_Sport
Member
Registered: 28th Jun 04
Location: Notts
User status: Offline
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what engine is it?
does look like its leaking from head-block join.
as long as it isn't using coolant, or burning oil, i wouldn't expect gasket failure if its a 1.4/1.6xe.
if its a different engine then i don't know, could be warped head, cracked head, maybe gasket, head not fitted properly.
either way, getting a 2nd hand head will cost bugger all
take it to a garage and let them have a look (a free look!) if it needs new head or something like that, try and source one yourself.
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DannyParker
Member
Registered: 26th Jun 07
Location: Blackburn, Lancs
User status: Offline
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It's a 1.4XE, its going to cost moeny to sort though no matter what I think. Say if I sourced a new head how much should I expect a grage to charge to replace it?
Thanks for all your help Will
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